ITINERARY 3 **** – 7 days
7 days **** in the steps of french history, and around the most famous castles of the Loire.
Chambord, Beauregard, Cheverny, Blois, Chenonceau, Amboise… These wonderfull Renaissance castles bring us into the heart of French History.
With itinerary 3 we start by riding in the favorite hunting forests of the Renaissance French kings, then along the wonderfull banks of river Cher and finish with the Chesnut trees of the Amboise forest.
Pace: moderate – 4 riding days from 3 to 5h per day in the saddle.
For riders who want to marry horseriding with most famous chateaux of the Loire visits.
Horses: mixed breed horses trained with the trail ride.
Day 1 :
Arrival to Relais de Chambord ****, in front of chateau de Chambord for 2 nights.
Dinner and briefing.
Day 2 : Chateau de Chambord
AM – about 3 hours on horseback
Beginning of the ride from Chambord along “the Grand Canal” with spectaculor views on Chateau de Chambord, then in the large alleys of the Boulogne forest around Chambord.
Back to Château de Chambord on horseback : Royal !
Lunch in Chambord.
PM
Visit of Chateau de Chambord.
Gourmet dinner and night at Relais de Chambord.
Day 3 : Chateau de Beauregard – Chateau de Cheverny
AM – about 3 hours on horseback
Begining of the ride from Chambord to chateau de Beauregard by the Boulogne forest.
We have the privilege to enter by the front path of the chateau: an unforgetable experience!
Guided visit of chateau de Beauregard.
Picnic with foie gras in chateau de Beauregard.
PM – 1 hour 30 on horseback
We leave to chateau of Cheverny on horseback by the countryside and Cheverny vinyards.
Visit of Château de Cheverny.
Diner and night in Relais des trois châteaux **** in Cheverny.
Day 4 : Chateau de Fougères – Chateau de Chaumont sur Loire
AM – about 2 hours 15 on horseback
Ride in the country side of Sologne to medieval chateau of Fougères sur Bièvre.
Visit of the medieval château of Fougères sur Bièvre
lunch in Fougères sur Bièvre
PM – about 3 hours on horseback
Beginning of the ride to Chaumont sur Loire in the country side until Candé on Beuvron, then folowing the Loire river to renaissance château of Chaumont sur Loire. Visit of renaissance château of Chaumont sur Loire or garden festival.
Night in charming Hostellerie du Chateau *** on the bank of river Loire in Chaumont sur Loire.
Day 5 : Chateau de Chaumont sur Loire – Chateau d’Amboise
AM – about 2 hours 30 on horseback
Beginning of the ride to Amboise by the bank of the river Loire, and the Touraine countryside. Lunch in a local restaurant in Mosnes, a charming village “toureangeau”.
PM – about 2 hours 30 on horseback
Ride to chateau d’Amboise by the country side – Special arriving to Chateau d’Amboise on horseback by “la porte des Lions”, the mediaval king’s door ! End of the ride.
We have then a private guided visit of the very historical Château d’Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci is buried. Gourmet diner and night at Hotel Le Choiseuil **** located along the river Loire in Amboise.
Day 6 : Visit of Chateau du Clos Lucé and Chateau de Chenonceau
AM – Visit of Clos Lucé, last home of Leonardo da Vinci, and its exhibitions.
Free time in the charming old center of Amboise.
Lunch in Amboise
PM – Visit of the fantastic Château de Chenonceau and its gardens. Gourmet dinner and night at the Hotel Le Choiseuil ****.
Day 7:
Breakfast – Departure